Page 49 - BWA Annual Report 2019

Each of the nine sites not only focuses on delivering basketball programs but also delivers our LifeSkills Development Program, which is embedded into
all Basketball Kimberley Programming. The LifeSkills Program works to improve health, wellbeing, and quality of life, which are fundamental to building strong, resilient, connected and harmonious Kimberley Communities.
HIGH PERFORMANCE
The Basketball Kimberley High-Performance Pro- gram went from strength to strength in 2019 with over 150 athletes attending local Hotshots & FDP camps and trailing for selection to our High-Perfor- mance Squad.
The Basketball Kimberley High Performance Program works to turn identified potential into talent and prepare local players to attend BWA Trials and Elite Programs in Perth each year. This year we were fortunate to have BWA Development Manager Josh Weir in the region to work with our players giving them further insight into the skills, attitude and work ethic required to play for Western Australia.
In 2019 five players and two coaches travelled to Perth to attended Basketball WA trials/Elite pro- grams. This may not seem significant to some, but considering that until last year the region did not have a High-Performance program and Kimberley based participation in BWA Trails/Elite Programs
was not occurring at all, this is a real sign that our work to build, not just our young athletes basketball skills, but internal belief to have the confidence to jump on a plane down to Perth and test themselves against the states very best players is on track.
We are proud to announce that Marcellus Bear (Derby Basketball Association) after participating
in this year’s BWA State Performance Program Trials was selected to the Under 16 Men’s Country State Performance Program, our second U16 SPP player in two years.
Marcellus has been working hard and performing very well in the SPP program. Basketballers across the whole of the Kimberley have been following his progress and throwing their support behind him as he chases his dream of representing Western Australia in the Under 16 National Championships.
The significance of local Kimberley-based players not only attending trials but being selected into programs is huge to young Kimberley athletes, who now not only have role models to emulate but actual proof that living remotely does not have to get in the way of chasing their dreams.
HEALTHY HOOPSTER HEROES
All our Basketball Kimberley High-Performance Players, who are young sporting heroes and emerg- ing leaders in their communities, took on a new role in the region in 2019 becoming Healthy Hoopster Heroes.
Our Healthy Hoopster Heroes Program is delivered in partnership with the Alcohol & Drug Foundation, who we are so thankful to have had as a partner. Without their support we could not work in this space.
In this Preventative Program each High-Perfor- mance Player works as a Peer Leader in our Aussie Hoops, Hotshots & FDP Programming across the re- gion, delivering age appropriate LifeSkills Lessons in a basketball context. The aim of the program is to try to change the way our young basketballers think about health risks and the health risk behaviours they engage in. The Healthy Hoopster Heroes also use their influence to encourage their peers to make better choices and live healthier lifestyles.
In 2019 Basketball Kimberley also continued to expand our our Challenge Achievement & Pathways through Sport Junior Leadership Development Program.
Though this program our High-Performance Players give back to their communities, while gaining valuable skills and experience as coaches & refer- ees, in their local association’s junior participation programming.
What a year it’s been for Basketball in the Kimberley!! As we continue to engage further communities, develop new programs and partnerships, and most importantly build confidence, competence and capacity in our people & organisations we can’t wait to see what 2020 will bring!!
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